Milk is made up of two major types of proteins, the casein class and the whey class.

Whey proteins contain higher levels of essential amino acids. They are used in ice cream, bread, soup, baby formula, and other food products.

Whey protein products can be processed in a number of ways. The finished products often have different levels of protein, sugars, minerals, and fat.

Whey protein is an easily digested source of protein. It is also a popular protein supplement for improving immune function and muscle strength. It is also used to help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and bone loss.

There is good evidence to support the use of whey protein for relieving allergy symptoms, reducing appetite, and providing protein. There is fairly good evidence to support its use for improving blood sugar levels, enhancing muscle mass and strength, and promoting weight loss. More research is needed to confirm these findings.

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

GRADE *

A whey formula has been studied for allergic skin symptoms in children receiving a diet containing very few foods. Whey protein formulas may help reduce the risk of cow's milk allergy, and may be more cost-effective when compared to standard formula for preventing allergies in infants. However, strong evidence is lacking for the use of whey protein formula for reducing skin allergies in infants up to three years of age. There is a lack of research on the effect of whey protein itself for reduced allergy risk in this population.

A

Whey protein has been studied for maintaining skeletal muscle mass. Studies suggest that whey protein may benefit older people and women after exercise.In healthy young men, whey protein increased blood levels of essential amino acids and the creation of muscle protein. Whey protein is considered by experts to be an excellent source of protein.

A

Whey protein has been studied for regulating appetite and body weight, and is considered an inexpensive source of protein. It may reduce short-term food intake and may also reduce risk factors for heart disease associated with obesity. These factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and blood sugar and insulin levels. Most studies suggest that whey protein increases feelings of fullness and reduces food intake. However, some results are conflicting, and more research is needed before firm conclusions can be made.

B

Many protein sources have been studied for their possible impact on blood sugar and insulin. Whey protein has been found to reduce blood sugar in both healthy people and those with type 2 diabetes. Further research is needed to determine potential interactions with medications and long-term effects of whey protein.

B

Whey protein has been studied for promoting muscle growth and improving athletic performance. Taking whey protein after exercise may have benefits in both men and women, in terms of improving protein oxidation and blood levels of essential amino acids. Overall, short-term studies have suggested that whey protein increases muscle mass and strength. Some conflicting results have been found in terms of whey protein's effects on body composition. More research is needed to confirm these results over a longer period of time.

B

Whey protein has been studied for weight loss and the regulation of appetite. Studies have shown whey protein to be an inexpensive source of high-quality protein and that it may reduce short-term food intake. Overall results suggest that whey protein may promote better weight loss when compared to lower-protein diets, but results are unclear when whey protein is compared to other protein sources. Research is still needed to make firm conclusions in this area.

B

Limited study suggests that a product containing whey protein may improve symptoms of acne. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Limited research suggests that whey protein may benefit people with allergic skin symptoms. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Limited study has found that a product containing whey protein may benefit people with ALS, a disorder of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Whey protein has been studied for the improvement of bone density. However, results are conflicting and more research is needed before a conclusion can be made.

C

Based on limited study, a product containing whey protein may benefit people with bronchospasm. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Limited research suggests that a product containing whey protein may have positive benefits for people with burns, including increased survival. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Limited research suggests that whey protein may have benefits for people with cancer. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Early research has found that whey protein may benefit children who have cerebral palsy, a disorder of the brain and nervous system. Further study is needed in this area.

C

Whey protein has been shown to improve lung function in people with chronic lung conditions. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

Whey protein may have benefit in babies with cystic fibrosis. It may increase weight gain in people with cystic fibrosis. More research is needed in this area.

C

Milk protein, including whey, has been studied for improving fluid balance after exercise. Early research suggests that a whey protein drink may lack an effect on fluid levels after exercise when compared to a placebo drink. Further research is needed before any firm conclusions can be made.

C

Based on limited study, a toothpaste product containing whey protein may have positive benefits for people with dental plaque. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Based on limited study, a whey protein product may help improve phosphate levels in people undergoing dialysis. Further study is needed in this area.

C

Whey protein may help prevent diarrhea caused by bacterial infection. A whey protein concentrate made from cow's milk has been found to be safe for use as a medical food in people with bacterial diarrhea. More research is needed in this area.

C

Infant formula containing whey protein may have benefit in babies at risk for eczema. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Whey protein has been studied for increasing exercise performance and promoting recovery. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

A product containing whey protein may benefit people with fatigue due to spinal injury. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

A whey protein product has been studied in people with acid flux disease associated with nervous system impairment. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Milk has been suggested to have benefit for growth in children. Early research suggests that whey formula lacks an effect when compared to cow's milk and breast milk. Further research in this area is needed before any firm conclusions can be made.

C

Based on limited study, a product containing whey protein may lack benefit in people with hearing loss. Further study is needed to confirm these findings.

C

Whey protein has been studied for reducing risk factors associated with heart disease. It has been found to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, evidence is lacking for improved blood vessel function. Further research is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Whey protein has been studied in critically ill children for the improvement of immune function. More research is needed before firm conclusions can be made on the use of whey protein for this purpose.

C

Early research in children suggests that whey protein may lack an effect on infection when compared to other treatments. Further research in this area is needed before any firm conclusions can be made.

C

Although not well studied in humans, early research suggests that whey protein may protect the liver and prevent liver inflammation. Further research is needed before firm conclusions can be made.

C

A product containing whey product may improve mental performance and memory. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Based on early study, whey protein may benefit people with mitochondrial diseases, which are caused by damage to the energy-producing parts of cells. Further study is needed.

C

Early research suggests that whey protein may lack an effect on myoclonic disorders. However, due to the lack of research in this area, further high-quality study is needed before any firm conclusions can be made.

C

Early study suggests that whey protein extract may help reduce symptoms of psoriasis. Further research on the effects of whey protein alone is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

A product containing whey protein may have benefit in people with short gut syndrome, in which nutrients are not properly absorbed due to a missing part of the small intestine. Further study is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Whey protein may help reduce stress, according to early research in humans. Further study on whey protein is needed before conclusions can be made.

C

Whey protein has been studied for the treatment of H. pylori infection, which causes stomach symptoms such as nausea and bloating. Early studies suggest that it lacks an effect when used for this purpose. More research is needed.

F

Although early studies suggested that whey protein may help reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure, higher quality research suggests a lack of effect. More research is needed.

F

* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this useB: Good scientific evidence for this useC: Unclear scientific evidence for this useD: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)

Tradition / Theory
The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

Daily doses of 20-30 grams of whey protein have been used, without exceeding 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight. A whey-containing protein shake after workouts has been used.

For reducing appetite, whey protein has been taken by mouth in single doses, doses of up to 60 grams, or 0.5 grams per kilogram of body weight in the form of Fonterra WPI 894 or BiPRO®. Whey protein has been added to yogurt as a single dose. Whey protein has been taken by mouth in the form of Lacprodan® DI-9213, containing 1,000 millijoules of energy.

For bone density, milk containing 30-40 milligrams of milk basic protein has been taken by mouth for 6-8 months. Doses of 30-60 milligrams of whey basic protein have been taken by mouth daily for 24 weeks. A dose of 250 milliliters of a skim milk-based drink containing 30 grams of whey protein has been taken by mouth daily for two years.

For bronchospasm (abnormal lung muscle contraction), 30 grams of denatured whey protein has been taken by mouth daily for eight weeks.

For cancer, 30 grams of whey protein has been taken by mouth daily for six months.

For heart disease risk, up to 60 grams of whey protein has been taken by mouth 1-2 times daily for 4-36 weeks. A dose of 45 grams of whey protein isolate has been taken by mouth as a single dose at breakfast. Milkshakes containing 45 grams of whey isolate (Lacprodan®-DI-9224) or whey hydrolysate (Lacprodan®-DI-3065) have been taken by mouth as single doses. A single dose of 5 grams of a whey-derived peptide (NOP-47) has been taken by mouth daily. Up to 15 grams of malleable protein matrix (WheygurteT) has been taken by mouth twice daily for three months.

For chronic lung conditions, 12 grams of whey protein has been taken by mouth twice daily for six weeks. A dose of 20 grams of pressurized whey in 120 milliliters of applesauce has been taken by mouth for 16 weeks.

For cystic fibrosis (mucus build-up in the lungs), whey in applesauce has been taken by mouth in a dose of 40 grams daily for 28 days. A dose of 10 grams of whey protein isolate (ImmunocalTM) has been taken by mouth twice daily for three months.

For dehydration, a drink containing 15 grams per liter of Impact whey protein has been taken by mouth over one hour as a single dose.

For diabetes, whey protein has been taken by mouth as a single dose in the following forms and doses: 45-55 grams, taken alone or added to soup or a potato, and single doses added to meals or drinks. Doses of 5-10 grams of glycemic index-lowering peptide fraction (GILP) from whey as a single dose have been taken by mouth. Whey protein has been taken by mouth in the form of Peptamen®.

For improving phosphate levels in people undergoing dialysis, 30 grams of a low-phosphate and low-potassium whey protein concentrate have been taken by mouth daily for three months.

For improved muscle strength, whey protein has been taken by mouth in the following doses and/or forms: up to 45 grams mixed with Gatorade®, three times weekly for up to 14 weeks; 1.2 grams per kilogram alone or mixed with sucrose powder, daily for six weeks; 30 grams in sachets mixed with food or drinks, twice daily for 36 weeks; 1.5 grams per kilogram of hydrolyzed whey isolate daily for 10 weeks; 33 grams as part of a protein bar, daily for nine weeks; 1.5 grams per kilogram immediately after exercise and four times daily for 14 days; 15 grams before and after exercise for 21 weeks; 1.0 gram per kilogram of whey protein powder daily for 14 weeks; and a dairy supplement containing whey protein, twice daily for eight weeks.

For exercise performance and recovery, whey protein has been taken by mouth in the following doses and/or forms: single doses of 2 percent whey hydrolysate in a test drink or 25 grams in flavored water; 0.4 grams per kilogram hourly with sucrose; 44 grams of orange-flavored Maximuscle PromaxT in divided doses before and after exercise, then twice daily for three days; 42 grams before and after exercise; 1.2-1.5 grams per kg daily with strength training.

For hearing loss, an undenatured whey protein supplement rich in glutathione has been taken by mouth.

For H. pylori infection, 2.5 grams of immune whey protein concentrate (WPC-80) has been taken by mouth three times daily for 28 days.

For liver inflammation, 20 grams of undenatured cysteine-rich whey protein isolate has been taken by mouth in two divided doses mixed with water, daily for 12 weeks. A dose of 12 grams of whey protein added to mousse has been taken by mouth twice daily for 12 weeks.

For HIV, the following doses and/or forms of whey protein have been taken by mouth: 40-45 grams 1-2 times daily for 2-12 weeks; 8.4 grams of ImmunocalT daily for four weeks, then 19.6 grams daily for four weeks, then 28 grams daily for one week, and finally 39.2 grams daily for three weeks; 8.4-84 grams of whey protein daily; 2.4 grams per kilogram daily in a high-calorie formula; and 42-84 grams daily in a glutamine-enriched formula.

For high blood pressure, 125-250 milliliters of drinks supplemented with whey peptides or whey protein (Alacen®) have been taken by mouth daily for 12 weeks to two years. A dose of 20 grams of hydrolyzed whey protein or unmodified whey protein has been taken by mouth daily for six weeks.

For immune function, 5 grams of whey protein has been taken by mouth three times daily for eight weeks.

For nutrition (protein source), 0.8 grams per kilogram of protein (with 50 percent being whey protein) has been taken by mouth daily for 15 days. Up to 15 grams of whey protein has been taken by mouth as a single dose. Doses of 0.3 grams per kilogram of whey protein to 0.48 grams of casein have been taken by mouth as a single dose.

For psoriasis, 5 grams of XP-828L whey protein extract has been taken by mouth daily for 56 days.

For dental plaque, whey protein toothpaste and tooth powder (0-20 percent) have been used for eight weeks.

Children (under 18 years old)

For allergies, 10 grams of whey protein (HMS90T) have been taken by mouth twice daily for one month. Formulas containing hydrolyzed whey proteins have been taken by mouth for the first four months in infants.

For reducing appetite, 1 gram per kilogram or up to 50 grams of whey protein have been taken by mouth as a single dose.

For burns, diets supplemented with ultrafiltered whey protein have been taken by mouth.

For cerebral palsy, 2.8 grams per 100 milliliters of hydrolyzed whey protein has been taken by mouth as a single meal via feeding pump.

For cystic fibrosis, 20 grams of pressurized whey in applesauce has been taken by mouth for 28 days. A dose of 10 grams of whey protein has been taken by mouth twice daily for three months.

For eczema, partially or extensively hydrolyzed whey infant formulas have been taken by mouth.

For HIV, whey protein has been taken by mouth once or twice daily for four months, with the first dose representing 20 percent of the total daily protein requirement, increasing by 10 percent each month over three months, until forming 50 percent of the total daily protein requirement.

For mitochondrial diseases, 10 grams of ProtherSOD® have been taken by mouth daily for 60 days.

For infection, 0.3 grams per kilogram of Beneprotein® have been injected into the vein every morning for up to 28 days.

Safety
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Allergies

Avoid in people with known allergy or sensitivity to milk or milk products, including cow's milk, sheep's milk, goat's milk, and mare's milk.

Allergic reactions (including diarrhea, failure to thrive, infant colic, rash, and vomiting) have been reported with exposure to whey.

Side Effects and Warnings

Whey protein is likely safe for most adults when used in amounts recommended by the manufacturer.

Whey protein is possibly safe when taken by mouth as a single dose of up to 50 grams, or when 30 grams is taken by mouth daily for six months.

Whey protein may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised in people with diabetes or low blood sugar, and in those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood sugar. Blood sugar levels may need to be monitored by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist, and medication adjustments may be necessary.

Whey protein may increase the risk of bleeding. Caution is advised in people with bleeding disorders or in those taking drugs that may increase the risk of bleeding. Dosing adjustments may be necessary.

Whey protein may interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using the liver's "cytochrome P450" enzyme system.

Whey protein may cause low blood pressure. Caution is advised in people with low blood pressure or in those taking drugs or herbs and supplements that lower blood pressure.

Drowsiness or sedation may occur. Use caution if driving or operating heavy machinery.

Use cautiously in people who take medications, including agents that affect the immune system and agents that lower cholesterol.

Use cautiously in people with stomach or intestine disorders.

Avoid in people with known allergy or sensitivity to milk or milk products, including cow's milk, sheep's milk, goat's milk, and mare's milk.

Avoid in people who are avoiding the use of dairy products.

Avoid using whey protein long-term and in excessive amounts.

Only approved sources of whey protein should be used in infant formulas.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

There is a lack of scientific evidence on the use of whey protein during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Only approved sources of whey protein should be used in infant formulas. Allergic reactions have been reported with exposure to whey protein, including diarrhea, failure to thrive, infant colic, and rash.

Whey protein may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised when using medications that may also lower blood sugar. People taking drugs for diabetes by mouth or insulin should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist. Medication adjustments may be necessary.

Whey protein may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with drugs that increase the risk of bleeding. Some examples include aspirin, anticoagulants ("blood thinners") such as warfarin (Coumadin®) or heparin, anti-platelet drugs such as clopidogrel (Plavix®), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) or naproxen (Naprosyn®, Aleve®).

Whey protein may interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using the liver's "cytochrome P450" enzyme system. As a result, the levels of these drugs may be altered in the blood, and may cause altered effects or potentially serious adverse reactions. People using any medications should check the package insert, and speak with a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist, about possible interactions.

Whey protein may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised when using herbs or supplements that may also lower blood sugar. Blood glucose levels may require monitoring, and doses may need adjustment.

Whey protein may cause low blood pressure. Caution is advised in people taking herbs or supplements that lower blood pressure.

Whey protein may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with herbs and supplements that are believed to increase the risk of bleeding. Multiple cases of bleeding have been reported with the use of Ginkgo biloba, and fewer cases with garlic and saw palmetto. Numerous other agents may theoretically increase the risk of bleeding, although this has not been proven in most cases.

Whey protein may interfere with the way the body processes certain herbs or supplements using the liver's "cytochrome P450" enzyme system. As a result, the levels of other herbs or supplements may be altered in the blood. It may also alter the effects that other herbs or supplements possibly have on the P450 system.

The information in this monograph is intended for informational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. Information is based on review of scientific research data, historical practice patterns, and clinical experience. This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Users should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for specific questions regarding therapies, diagnosis and/or health conditions, prior to making therapeutic decisions.